Sony raises PlayStation 5 prices across Europe, Australia, and New Zealand
Sony has announced price changes to the PlayStation 5 and Disc Drive for PS5 due to current market conditions, which are being affected negatively for Japanese console makers by US tariffs and a poorer yen trade currency market. Readers who fear prices on imported game consoles will keep rising should consider buying a PlayStation 5 Pro at today's prices here on Amazon.
The Trump administration has increased tariffs on almost all countries it trades with over the past weeks, with increases as high as 145% for China. This has had a dramatic effect on the yen to foreign currency trade as well as the price of components imported and consoles exported from Japan.
In response to current market conditions, Sony will on April 14 make the following PS5 price changes:
- Europe - Increase price of PS5 Digital Edition to €499.99
- UK - Increase price of PS5 Digital Edition to £429.99
- Australia - Increase price of standard PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive to AUD $829.95
- Australia - Increase price of PS5 Digital Edition to AUD $749.95
- New Zealand - Increase price of standard PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive to NZD $949.95
- New Zealand - Increase price of PS5 Digital Edition to NZD $859.95
The current price of the PS5 Digital Edition in the UK is £339.99, meaning the planned price hike to £429.99 is a 26.5% increase.
Use and demand for games delivered on physical optical media, from DVDs to Blu-Rays to PS5 games, has declined in recent years with the shift to digital delivery. Sony will on April 14 make the following Disc Drive for PS5 price changes:
- Europe - Decrease price to €79.99
- UK - Decrease price to £69.99
- Australia - Decrease price to AUD $124.95
- New Zealand - Decrease price to NZD $139.95
The current price of the Disc Drive for PS5 in the UK is £99.99, so the planned price decrease to £69.99 is a 30.0% decrease.
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